Zlin, South Moravia, April 23 (CTK) – Inhabitants of Zlin have this year sent 296 bicycles to children in the African country of Gambia who will use them to get to remote schools, Zdenek Dvorak, spokesman for the town hall, has told CTK.
Last year, Zlin sent 329 bikes to Gambia.
“Unlike previous years, this year there were more of those who donated more than one bicycle,” town councillor Josef Novak said.
The bicycles will be handed to the Bicycles for Africa NGO that will organise their repairs, transport and transfer to people in Gambia. It will also train the recipients in fundamental maintenance of the bikes.
“Without the bicycles, it would be difficult for the children to go to school. The distance ranges between eight and 15 kilometres,” Roman Posolda, Bicycles for Africa director, said.
He said Zlin will also participate in the project next year.
Bicycles for Africa was founded in Ostrava, north Moravia, in 2012. It drew inspiration from the Jole Rider charity organisation and the Bicycles for Humanity movement as well as the personal experiences of the Czech project’s founders.
The Bicycle for Africa has already sent 3179 bicycles to Gambian school children and their families and 152 bikes to environmentalists in Chad and Cameroon.
